White told the station he received a letter around noon from the city's chief administrative officer, William Daniel, that there was a "substantial disagreement with the direction of the Baton Rouge Police Department."

WAFB-TV reports the dismissal comes after months of speculation that White's position was in jeopardy.

White says he doesn't know who the interim police chief will be.

A telephone call Wednesday to the mayor's office for comment was not immediately returned.